Vacuum feed device



Aug. 12 1924.

1,504,799 L. H. WHEELER VACUUM FEED DEVICE Filed Aug. 24, 1922 5 F! ii I: H

9 a ll 7 F g? 2 J Z leomrazmeer Patented Aug. 12, 1924.

UNITED STATES 1,504,799 PATENT OFFICE.

LEONARD H. WHEELER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO STEWART-WARNER SPEEDOMETEB CORPORATION, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF VIR- GINIA.

VACUUM FEED DEVICE.

Application filed August 24, 1922. Serial No. 583,952.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LEONARD H. Wnnmm, a citizen of the United States, residin in the city of Chicago, in the county of ook and the State of llinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Vacuum Feed Devices, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part ereof.

The purpose of this invention is to provide a simplified form of vacuum feed device adapted for operation by any means which may be depended upon to furnish a fairly constant and always adequate suction. it consists of certain features and elements of construction hereinafter described and shown in the drawings as indicated by the claim.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a diagrammatic side elevation of an apparatus embodying this invention as connected with the engine of a motor vehicle and with the fuel supply tank thereof.

Figure 2 is a substantially axial vertical section of the vacuum chamber of the device.

In the diagram of Figure .1 the engine or motor is shown at 1 provided with a carbureter, 2, and fuel supply tank, 3. A suction pump a, of any suitable construction is indicated as mounted on the engine base to be driven by the engine so as to furnish at all times a sufliciently strong suction to operate the vacuum feed mechanism. The pump, 4, is connected by a suction pipe, 5, with the vacuum chamber, 6, and the latter is fed from the tank, 3, through a pipe, 7, through which liquid is drawn from the lower tank, 3, when the chamber, 6, is placed under partial vacuum by the withdrawal. of air therefrom throu h the pipe, 5.

As the liquid accumu ates in the chamber, 6, it automatically causes the closing the valve, 8, which controls the suction connection through the pipe, 5, said valvebeing carried on a stem, 9, upon which a float, 10,

is slidably guided for play between upper and lower stop flanges, 11 and 12, on said stem. At its upper limit the float, 10, closes the valve, 8, and permits the vacuum to be rapidl dissipated through a constantly opene vent port, 13, in the top of the chamber. When atmospheric pressure is restored in the chamber, 6, the liquid discharges by gravity therefrom and permits the float, 10,

to fall to the stop, 12. A cushion spring, 14, receives the impact of the float and stem, 9, as the valve, 8, is unseated in opposition to the suction in the pipe, 5, said spring, 14, tending to guide the action of the device. The lower end of the stem, 9, is guided in the sleeve, 15, supported in an upstanding pgsltion from the bottom wall of the chamr, 6, and serving for discharge of liquid therefrom. Outside said bottom wall a flanged fitting, 16, is secured around the opening of the tube, 15, and furnishes a discharge port, 17, and valve, 18, confined within close range of its seat, 17, by means of a cage, 19, screwed into the fitting, 16. Within the cage, 19, a shoulder is formed to recelve the feet or lugs, 18, of the valve disk, 18, when the latter is released from its seat by cessation of the suction in the chamber, 6. Said valve disk is stiffened against the suction by making its central portlon dished or concave at 18.

From the cage, 19, the discharge pipe, 20, leads to the carbureter, 2, and said pipe is. purposely made of large cross section in proportion to the carbureter and in proportion to the vacuum chamber, 6, so that the pipe, 20, may serve as a reservoir for a uantity of fuel ample to meet the needs of t e carbureter, 2, during the suction or fillmg interval of the cycle of operation of the vacuum chamber, 6. To permit the liquid to flow freely from the pipe, 20, to the carbureter, a vent stack, 21, is connected into the fitting, 19 at 22 and though this connection, 22, is somewhat restricted in cross section, the stack, 21, itself is of comparatively large cross section so that if the external heat tends to vaporize any of the liquid fuel, the vapor can readily bubble through the liquid standing in the pipe, 21, without tending to blow out the liquid contents of the pipe. To avoid interference with the action of the float, 10, a discharge portion, 7, of the feed pipe, 7 leading through the top of the vacuum chamber, 6, is bent so as to throw the stream of incoming liquid against the side wall of the chamber, 6, rather than permit it to splash upon the float, 10.

I claim:

In a vacuum fuel feeding device comprising a vacuum chamber adapted to deiver fuel by gravity through a discharge orifice in the bottom of the chamber, a fitting secured to the bottom of the chamber encompassing said orifice and having a d1sv :harge opening substantially larger than saidside the vacuum chamber to a point above the high liquid level thereof,' said stand pi e being opened to atmospheric pressure at t e top and being of relatively large cross-section to serve as a fuel reserve chamber for discharge by gravity during the suction intervals of operation of the vacuum chamber., In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at Chicago, Illinois, this 19th 20 day of August 1922. v LEO ARD H. WHEELER. i 

